When this tiny penguin finds his favorite person, he goes totally bonkers

The world’s smallest species of penguin is known merely as the “little penguin.” They’re adorable, barely more than a foot tall and weighing only about 3 pounds. They’re also known as the “little blue penguin” because their plumage has a distinctive slate-gray color.

While you might associate penguins with Antarctica, the little penguin’s natural habitat stretches across the southern coasts of Australia and New Zealand. Their awkward gait on land is comical, but once a little penguin is in the water, it becomes incredibly graceful, “flying” underwater looking for something tasty (typically fish, squid, or a crustacean).

One of the residents of the Cincinnati Zoo is a little penguin named Cookie. He’s surprisingly friendly with people and serves as the mascot for the zoo’s Bird House.

The video posted below will give you a little glimpse of what goes on behind the scenes at the Cincinnati Zoo. He wanders around aimlessly and occasionally shaking his tail in classic penguin fashion.

Someone gently encourages him to waddle over to another room. When he sees his favorite caregiver, Cookie goes completely bonkers. You’ll have to see it to believe it, but his display of enthusiasm may well be the cutest thing ever.

We don’t know, but it’s a good guess that Cookie always greets his best friend with this wonderfully over-the-top display of affection. The zoo staffer who made the video seemed happy to be able to say, “I finally got that on tape.”